Education News Colorado is reporting that two Denver elementary schools are being investigated by the state department of education for potential cheating on standardized tests.

The schools are Beach Court Elementary and Hallett Fundamental Academy. Principals from both schools have been placed on administrative leave.

According to the EdNews story, Denver Public Schools conducted its own, thorough analysis of the tests after seeing “statistically unusual patterns.” That included putting test monitors into the schools during the last round of standardized testing.

It’s pretty incriminating that with such oversight, both schools saw double-digit declines in test scores.

What a shame.

Beach Court, a high-poverty school, has received a great deal of attention for its big improvements in test scores. In 2010, the Post wrote a story heralding its improvements.

“It is happening because of the focus on strong teaching, high-quality school leadership around a rigorous core curriculum with a district that is relentlessly focused on growth and results,” Superintendent Tom Boasberg said at the time.

It’s to DPS’s credit that it investigated suspicions and took those to the state department of education. That has not always been the case with other districts and allegations of cheating. In Atlanta, it took a critical state report to blow the lid off widespread cheating.

Nevertheless, if the allegations hold — that someone erased wrong answers and filled them in with correct ones — it will be a sad day for these schools and the district, which has worked so hard to try to make transformations happen the honest way.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.